Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates

Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, GBH

Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates is GBH’s first Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer. She develops strategies using a data driven approach in initiatives and practices that support and advance a respectful and inclusive workplace, building on GBH’s commitment to create a more diverse environment and to have inclusion and equity reflected both in our organization and our work. She works closely with members of the Executive Leadership Team and collaborates with staff members across the organization. Oloruntola-Coates calls herself an inclusion architect and has been leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for more than 15 years, implementing culturally responsive practices and shaping an understanding of the role that diversity plays within organizations and communities. She joined GBH in 2021 from Baystate Health in Springfield, MA where she served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Prior to that she was System Director of Diversity and Patient Care Civil Rights at Lee Health in Florida, which during her tenure twice was recognized by Forbes Magazine as best employer for diversity and women. With extensive experience in DEI education and training, Oloruntola-Coates also has worked and studied internationally as a teacher and cultural ambassador in Japan, and as a Fulbright Fellow in West Africa. She is a member of the Conference Board Executive Diversity Council, a faculty member of Healthcare Management Institute, published two white papers, “How Diversity and Inclusion Strategies Enhance Organizational Readiness for Global Nursing Recruitment” in Nurse Leader magazine, and “COVID-19 mitigation for high-risk populations in Springfield Massachusetts USA: a health systems approach” in the International Journal for Equity in Health. Oloruntola-Coates has been recognized with numerous awards, including being honored as one of the 2021 Top 100 Diversity Officers by Diversity First, National Diversity and Leadership Conference and 2022 Color Magazine Power 50 CDO’s. She holds a BA degree from Hofstra University and MA degree from the University of Florida.